Browning Guy

When I played, I complained all the freakin time....... because I suck at golf.

Too late, $Long, $$McCaskill and $$$Blunt each have one docked at State Park. You're gonna need a 250 footer to one up them. Took the kids out Sunday down around the big island up from Aunts and a MASSIVE house boat looking thing came by running at a good 15-20 mph shortly after... the OMT tournament guys were heading back in and all heck broke loose in 4'-5' swells. Nothing I could do, but hope and pray nobody got hurt. I have no idea how the owner can dock the boat in a 30' deep stall as it had to be 40' or more. Wonder what the law is regarding boats extending past the outside of the dock?

"Brought to you by the Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors". Tells me everything I need to know. I didn't and won't sign it. Nearly everything they oppose on their petition seems to be against growth, cutting vegetation, more boat docks, no docks in 8' or less, dock modification every 5 years, etc. Basically, throw rules and regs out and don't limit our ability to sell more lots/land. To give the Corps some credit, they are trying to reduce the slip size from 14' x 30' to 12' x 30'. 12' x 28' would be better, but.... it's a start. - My point is to set rules on the size and types of boats on TR to help keep it from becoming LOZ and limit the numbers of docks on the lake until ALL of the slips on current docks are being used. There are so many empty stalls on the 20 slip docks........ There are rules for the road to include speed limits, vehicle size, etc. $Long and $$$Blunt stood on the side of the realtors when they interjected themselves into the Shoreline Mgmt Plan of the Corps. Still amazes me $Long ran on the moto "Fed Up". Seems to have been co-opted within 1 year siding with big money to protect his job. Not a Republican or Democrat thing as both sides do it and we get left behind. Principle. Oh never mind just hold on to the gunnels a little tighter each year and understand you can't take your kids and grand kids to the dock during the summer because they get hurt from falling when the waves hit (like my 7 year did earlier this year on Grandpas' dock).

The good news in this thread is there are a number of like minded and good people with different backgrounds who all enjoy the outdoors. From what I have read, most are sensible and can base their decisions on facts rather than illogical rhetoric. Thank you for this as it makes me believe America is still good, just off the rail right now. We need to work together and put her back on track. My wife and I pay close attention............. to which movies we see (65% of the nuts in Hollyweird will not benefit from our attendance). Disney has been crossed off the list (chose to go elsewhere for vacation). ESPN is crossed off. CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC and sometimes Fox is turned off. Several Universities are crossed off the list for our upcoming students. PayPal is reduced when possible. No Starbucks for us. The list is long, but we stick with our principles until the media, athletes, actors and corporations stop with their own bigotry, inserting themselves in politics and BS rhetoric. This thread has nothing to do with fishing, but it has everything to do with common sense and reality amongst those who have a common interest in fishing/outdoors. Now, what do we do about it? Push back gently? Help in voicing concerns of what is happening to TR? Etc......

8Pounder..... yep x 2. Can't help but think of the movie Caddy Shack. Rodney Dangerfield's character (Al Czervik) vs. the other smug, rich guy played by Ted Knight (Judge Elihu Smails). Al comes flying up to the dock in a massive cruiser meant for the ocean/great lakes where the Judge has his small sail boat docked. Al throwing huge waves all the while, jet skiers crashing, fisherman has to bail out of his boat, and those on the dock get thrown off as the arrogant rich Al pays no attention to the damage and chaos he's caused. Tablerock..... the new Caddy Shack with lots of Al like folks running their boats causing damage and chaos. Sad that it's allowed and few care to try to change what's "going to happen" ("per the Corps"). Wonder how many accidents there were so far this season on TR and what the causes were? Anyone have stats or source?

August 9th. Just a few more and he has it all.

"I will have kids in the Classroom on Monday" God bless and thank you. No where close to an easy job, thankless most times, but kids are our future and you can and will make a difference in their lives. My wife and I are very involved in our two kids school and believe that we are obligated to stay engaged in their education, providing the foundation, confidence and responsibility. Now..... you need to figure out a way to get them on the water fishing during "class time" this fall, winter and spring. The outdoors has so much to offer in learning. Thank you again RPS.

On the money and Absolutely right Bo. Rolling over and taking it isn't manning up. You've been on TR for a lot of years also (43 years for me) and can remember what the lake used to be like before the 40'ers, surf boats and wake board boats. Things can be done legislatively if everyone voices their concerns. If that wasn't the case, two separate Corps reps wouldn't have basically begged me to contact my reps and let my friends know to do the same. The Corps knows they have problems, but need us to help them. As an example of power in numbers...... I've been fighting the Water Patrol removing No Wake buoys for nearly 2 years now via Facebook, Twitter, OA, letters and phone calls. When I spoke with the Corps at the Reeds Spring meeting I mentioned to the Corps rep about the Water Patrol removing the buoys...... the Corps rep said they rec'd a call from WP Captain Matt Waltz asking "what in the world the Corps was telling people" about the buoy removal. According to the Corps rep...Waltz said they have received so many complaints via phone calls and letters about the removal and that the WP was upset with the Corps for basically stirring people up. I requested the names and contact information for those with buoys nearly 3 weeks ago, was told it would take 2-3 days, then told 5-6 days and there would be charge for the information, 3 weeks later and still waiting. There is a reason for the delay and I will explain later (it's a good thing). Contacting and letting them hear from us makes a difference. Until they figure out how to put a 400# thrust trolling motor on a 40' cruiser, our summer fishing will be negatively affected until they enforce or legislate some sanity. There's always "we can't" and they usually reap the benefits from "we can". Never an easy task, but can be worth the while. We left fish biting yesterday and from my 12 year old boys perspective "this sucks" (that we couldn't stand up in the boat and had to leave).

Was out until 11:45 ish this a.m. just below Piney. Couldn't stand up in the boat any longer and decided to put it on the trailer before my 12 year old or I got hurt. 43 years of fishing TR and I've never seen it like this summer. Written my letters to $Long, $$McCaskill and $$$Blunt along with making my views known (politely) to the Corps and Water Patrol. Hoping everyone else has also. How in the world they allow massive cruisers on a lake like TR is beyond me. The wake board boat chaos was down right nuts. Cutting in front of one another, not paying a bit of attention to what was going on around them. NOT one sign of the Water Patrol. Fishing was fairly good on 3.5" swim baits and spoons. 4 nice keepers with a total of 16-18 fish on flat points near deeper water.

Looks to me that she's giving you fishing lessons.

State Legislative Representative Look up - http://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/ZipLookup.aspx Claire McCaskill - https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/contact Roy Blunt - https://www.blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/home Billy Long - https://long.house.gov/ Find your U.S. Congressional Representative - https://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ I will post the letter I sent to my Reps next week along with the info above. Most likely on a new sticky as to refresh the conversation to more of "the next step of call to action". From what I heard at the Reeds meeting the COE is well aware of the massive boat wakes, but are limited to their "leaders" in D.C. The Corps official I spoke with politely said that "folks need to voice their concerns to Washington" if they want to try to stop the chaos. In the conversation, I felt as though the Corps rep was saying..... please help us. Contacting the State of Missouri Reps wouldn't hurt, but it is a Corps lake. Another thought would be to try to get KY3, KOLR 10 and KSPR 33 to do a story on the shoreline erosion, dock destruction and safety issues of having massive boats and wake board and surf board boats on a lake the size of TR. Any leads on that process would be great. Looking at the Water Patrol stats of accidents and deaths / history of.......... would be a good thing to introduce to the media.

Now we're working on ideas and thinking through various options to try to at least slow the chaos. Thanks for the input DTRS. I've been thinking the same on the enviro angle, but unsure where or who to go to. The last thing a politician wants is a record of not protecting the environment or any headlines showing he/she's record of destroying the environment.

Just mailed my three letters (took all of an hours work) and will send one to my State about the buoy removal. Johnny maybe an idea and will most likely send something to his keepers. No doubt a way up uphill battle, but at least I can say I tried to make a difference. After attending the presentation last night, I get the feeling that there are many folks not pleased with what is happening and I will stand with them and hope.

Vernon, spot on. I went to the Reeds Spring meeting last night. The Corps was professional and cordial as was I and most I saw. Without naming names of who I spoke with..... the Corps is well aware of the SIGNIFICANT problems caused by the ocean liners, wake board boats and surf boats. They are also aware of the anger caused by the Water Patrols push to remove the buoys from the lake. According to the Corps representatives I spoke with, the two MAJOR concerns being expressed by the public is the massive boats, dock destruction, bank erosion and removal of buoys. They documented my, and others, concerns in a very professional manner. I mentioned that TR is being turned into Lake of the Ozarks south. The two representatives both said it will get much worse if Washington doesn't hear from us (the general public). One Corps official said that money is trying to outdo money on the lake write now and that I was correct in comparing LOZ and the new TR. With this said.............IT IS NOW our responsibility to send our concerns to Claire McCaskill, Roy Blunt, Billy Long AND our State Representatives. Some on this board will say "it won't matter if we write our Representatives" and unfortunately the self defeating attitude will lead to bigger boats, more damage and the inability to use the lake by us during the summer months. Love or hate Ms. McCaskill.... she is facing an uphill battle for re-election next year. We have the opportunity to ask her for help in this matter and maybe she is looking for more agenda items to sink her teeth into. My letters have been written (after speaking with the Corps last night) and I will be assisting others in writing their letters. I encourage everyone on this board to take a few minutes and write the Corps before August 30 and write each of their Representatives. As I said when I started this thread.....speak now or forever hold your peace. 43 years of fishing Table Rock Lake and I have never seen a summer like this.

Bobby, I will be at the Reeds meeting around 5:30. I will PM you with my #. Would like to meet you. Thanks.

I believe there should be a water displacement law for Tuna Rig / Ocean going vessels. Sure, you can have your 30'+ boat on TR, no problem. You just can't put it on plane at anytime. Why? 1) Safety to all others. 2) Bank erosion protection. 3) Prevent damage to docks. 4) Prevent damage to other boats in docks. Massive boats on an inland reservoir like TR is wrong. Not sure which location would be closest for you, but let Corp and Water Patrol hear from you and share your concerns and experiences from the affects. Shell Knob at the Methodist Church (I think) this p.m. from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. or Reeds Springs tomorrow (Wed.) 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. or write the Corps and cc the Water Patrol BEFORE AUGUST 30,2017. They are asking for input. Share your experiences and concerns.

Thank you for the update and thank you for going. I will be at the Reeds Spring meeting Wednesday.

Reading page 37 of the current proposed "Shoreline Management Plan".....Under the Carrying Capacity section... "One of our priorities is the safety of the public." The proposed plan quotes from The Recreational Boating Use Study, Table Rock Lake, completed in April 2010, section 4.2.. "management should strive to conserve use levels to prevent these levels from exceeding (60+% increase) this threshold. Without this type of management strategy, opportunities for other classes of experience on the lake will be eliminated and those boaters looking to fish, swim, or relax quietly will likely be displaced elsewhere to seek out their recreational experiences." (ya, they really put that in there) The good news...... "based on the slip numbers counted in 2009 and 2017, Table Rock has been experiencing a 6.9% growth rate. It is calculated , based on historical growth rates and these capacity calculations, that Table Rock Lake may not reach maximum capacity for another 61 years". I will be dead and gone by the time you can walk across the decks of boats to get from Pt. 9 to Joe Bald. Current calculations in the Shoreline Management Plan states that an additional 1,253 boats and an additional 10,221 access opportunities WOULD NOT breach the recommended maximum 60% increase in boats." With that said and with the full faith and confidence of Government number crunchers I feel that we are in safe hands knowing that the Federal Government has studied the nearly out of control situation currently being played out on TR.

Watch the shoreline.... in the a.m. 2' visibility at best, by afternoon............8"-10" visibility. Meetings about the Corps Shoreline Management plan tonight at the Chateau on the Lake 4:00-7:00, Shell Knob Methodist Church (I think) same time tomorrow night and Reeds Spring High School Wednesday night. Tell your neighbors and fellow fishermen, attend and let the Corps and Water Patrol know.

Please provide the GPS coordinates so that I can sit on the point for you in your absence. I will protect it so that no one else (but us) fishes it.

I spoke with Capt. Matt Walz of the Water Patrol about 18 months ago when I read about the proposal of removing the buoys through "work group" meeting minutes posted (buried some where on the internet). Capt. Walz stated "buoys are redundant to state law and are not needed". He told me that he was proposing that dock owners place an 18" x 24" sign on their dock stating "No Wake within 100 ft of the Dock". Long and Blunt got word that the Corps was going to stop issuing dock permits (through the same "work groups") and the two got involved and NOW the proposed Shoreline Management Plan states dock permits from 1-20 stalls will be considered and issued by the Corps. If you think that boat traffic has been bad this summer...... just wait... more stalls + cheaper stall prices + more boats = Lake of the Ozarks south. I truly understand that EVERYONE should have access to Table Rock and enjoy it, but for the love of all that is good, why do you need a boat that throws massive wakes on and inland reservoir the size of TR? Destruction of private property (docks and boats in slips), shoreline and danger/safety to others should be considered by the Corps, Capt. Walz, Long and Blunt. That's why it's important for us to contact them and let them know how our fishery will be affected. Thanks goes to those who are writing congress and will attend the meetings this week voicing their concerns and ideas that will benefit the fishermen on this site! Our "leaders" need to hear our side also.

We keep game cams on our dock, one of which our buoy can clearly be seen in the photos. We have several photos of tubers and skiers being pulled within 15' or so of the buoy, despite having over 500 yards of lake to play in past the buoy.

Massive boat wakes...... fishing. Just experienced both first hand yesterday. Couldn't fish any main lake stuff due to MASSIVE constant wakes. The boat ride to and from was miserable. This fishing forum provides us fisherman the opportunity to help ourselves by getting involved and I'm thankful to have OA - Table Rock as long as we make good use of it by getting the word out on fishing, tackle and yes, what affects TR. What better place to do it? Discussing the issue of massive boats on an inland reservoir we all love and appreciate at a Corps public meeting seems to be the least we can do to help ourselves and our kids fishing future.

I will be at the Reeds Spring meeting and ask for you.

There is huge difference between LOZ and TR. LOZ is not controlled by the Corps of Engineers. Table Rock is controlled by the Corps of Engineers. Please read the proposed "Shoreline Management Plan - 2017". The Corps of Engineers is asking for the publics input! IF the "size and type of vessel on a lake" is causing significant impact to the shoreline, docks and boating safety I believe they (Water Patrol & Corps ) have the ability AND obligation to "limit the size and type of vessel on a lake" or control their speeds, etc when it becomes a safety issue for others. I know sitting back and saying nothing at the Corps held public meetings or writing them before August 31, 2017 is to do nothing.